R.T. Rybak wrote There has been a good deal of criticism of the Park Board on this list, and it's no secret that I haven't always seen eye to eye with them, either. But I just finished signing actions from the Board's last meeting and it included several very good pieces of news.
Among them are the Park Board is moving ahead with skate parks at Creek View and Armatage Parks; keeping open beaches at Calhoun, Harriet and Cedar Lake and one that I will use a lot: approve an agreement with Minneapolis Off-road Cycling Advocates for an off road cycling demonstration project at Wirth Park. That last one is the result of the board working with off road advocates to develop a way for responsible riders to have a legal path that protects the environment. Good to see all this good news! Lisa McDonald East Harriet replied My concern about all these new projects in the Park system is that they can always find capitol to keep expanding the system but they can't seem to find money to maintain it or even keep the basic things running like the fountains at the Rose Garden. I think we need to stop complementing them on expansion and start asking some serious questions about why they can't seem to maintain what they have. And don't let them use the LGA cuts as a reason for their cuts, this has been going on for a number of years in the system. now Me I have to agree with you, Lisa. Starting back in the '80s when the Park Board decided to get out of the tree growing business and buy them from Bachman's. Then they shut down their nursery and with it the summer jobs that they provided for city kids. More recently is the business of the concession stands that the Board feels they are somehow incapable of managing so we have to bring in outside managers or even a franchise if they can get by with it. I thought it was rather humorous a month ago when a letter arrived from the Charter commission about redrafting the charter and pointing out that no Park Board folks had been involved since they started the process despite sending Bob Fine a letter last September that apparently got lost. At the meeting where this came up, Brian Rice gave a very dire report on the latest Charter draft that seemed to show the commission was intent upon putting the Park Board out of business by taking away most of its authority. What I found funny was that they had just voted to once again dole out the management of the concessions for a royalty check. They seemed to be putting themselves out of business all by themselves. Steve Nelson Willard Hay REMINDERS: 1. Think a member has violated the rules? Email the list manager at [EMAIL PROTECTED] before continuing it on the list. 2. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait. For state and national discussions see: http://e-democracy.org/discuss.html For external forums, see: http://e-democracy.org/mninteract ________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
